Steak Stir-Fry

My family loves stir-fry and the more veggies I can add in, the better! Here is the recipe for the stir-fry I posted in my health groups last night! This is a semi-homemade kinda dish, an easy quick weeknight supper!

Ingredients:
1 lb. stir-fry sliced beef (steak)
1 package frozen stir-fry mix
1 can sliced water chestnuts
1 can Chinese mixed veggies (sprouts/corn/carrots)
2 tbsp sesame oil
1 1/2 tsp sirrachi (chili paste)
3 tbsp Bragg's amino acids (soy sauce alternative)
2 tsp real all natural honey
1 tsp ginger
1 tbsp garlic
1 tbsp onion
Brown Rice

Directions:
1. Sauté beef in 1 tbsp sesame oil until cooked through, remove from pan and place in covered bowl
2. Sauté stir-fry mixture, water chestnuts, and mixed veggies in remaining sesame oil. Once cooked through, mix in sirrachi, amino acids, honey, ginger, garlic, and onion.
3. Cook rice according to package, serve stir-fry over rice.

Awesome slightly sweet and spicy dish!

Chicken Caprese

This was the delicious low carb meal my family enjoyed tonight!

Chicken Caprese

Ingredients:

4 chicken breasts

2 cups cherry or chunked Roma tomatoes

3 tbsp fresh minced garlic

4 tbsp Italian seasoning mix

2 tbsp Olive oil

4 tbsp balsamic vinegar

Salt & pepper

Bunch fresh basil

2 slices fresh mozzarella 

Drizzle one tbsp Olive oil in pan (I used a panini pan), sprinkle breast with 2 tbsp. Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Cover and cook, turning part way through, until cooked through. Drizzle with 2 tbsp. balsamic vinegar, cover, and let sit 10 min.

While the chicken is cooking, preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Place tomatoes, minced garlic, remaining italian seasoning mix, remaining olive oil and balsamic vinegar in a pyrex dish. Bake until tomatoes are tender, approximately 15 minutes. 

I suggest serving in a bowl, you wouldn't want to miss any of the delicious sauce that is drizzled over the chicken! Place chicken in the bowl, sprinkle top with fresh basil, place 1/2 slice fresh mozzarella on top, then spoon tomato mixture over top. Garnish with remaining basil and serve!!

I served this with a beautiful big salad and voila! Delizioso!

Homemade Almond Butter

I am a fan of almost every nut butter out there, unfortunately when bought from most stores they include a ton of stuff, not stuff I particularly want in my nut butter! I had a friend who began making her own almond butter and found it was very easy, affordable, and DELICIOUS! Check it out!

Ingredients:
2 cups raw almonds
2 tbsp coconut oil

Directions:
1.) Preheat the oven to 375
2.) Bake almonds for approximately 6-8 min
3.) Put in food processor for about 10-15 minutes...scraping down the sides in the middle! Your will be able to see the texture change into almond butter. .  

TIPS:
*If it's not becoming oily you didn't blend long enough! *I added some cinnamon the other day and it was amazing!! 
*Store in a tightly closed container in the refrigerator for maximum freshness 

I hope you enjoy this delicious almond butter as much as I have! 

It is great on an apple or slice of Ezekiel bread. 

Happy New Year> RESOLUTIONS

As he year comes to an end and we get ready to watch the ball drop, we all begin thinking about the things we would like to change or do differently in the future year. We often call these things our New Years RESOLUTIONS. We may sit down a make a list, we may voice them on New Year's Eve, or put them in our phone as a continual reminder. Unfortunately, too often theses so called resolutions get overlooked as the year goes on and forgotten, thus giving the bad rep of New Years resolutions.

A few of the most talked about resolutions are...

• Lose WEIGHT
• Eat healthier
• Workout more often
• Pray more
• Pay off debts
• ... The list goes on and on

The honest truth is, the only person that can truly make those things on your list happen, fulfill you goals, accomplish your dreams, is YOU!!! YES, YOU! 

Our inability to accomplish what we have set forth for ourselves lies within our hands, most people are not ready to take the responsibility of admitting they didn't accomplish their goals, or they come up with a million excuses as to why they didn't complete them. A lot of people get started on their list for instance purchasing the gym membership, taking am ones management class, or even hiring a personal trainer or financial analyst. The truth is we may initiate he process, maybe even complete a couple weeks, even a couple months, then all the sudden there are other things that are more important or consuming our time. 

Last year I set some goals for myself, a list of 10 things and we'll I myself must confess, I completed 1/2 of them, I allowed excuses or what have you not come in between my goals and me. But I am glad I at least completed a portion of them rather than none, some is always better than none. 

Thus year is MY YEAR. I have set some high standards for myself and I am going to get this done! Whose with me??? What are your goals?

Here is my 2014 goals board, check it out, read over it, and keep me accountable!!! Accountability is key!

MY GOALS: Attend Coach Summit 2014 (My healthy lifestyle business), Pay down my student loan debt, Eat cleaner, Get turbo kick certified, Grow my business and become a DIAMOND, Run at least 2 5Ks, Attend BB Success Club trip to Cancun (It is actually next year, but I earn it this year, I mean really Cancun vacation FREE, heck yes), Read personal development EVERY DAY (I love The Compound Effect and Push, two of my favs thus far), Be the Strongest & Healthiest Me of my LIFE, Spend more time with my family (especially my niece, nephew, and sister ;), Put money in savings, Go on a cruise with my honey (this is our thing, we love it, this is also the only way I can get him on a vacay with no phone or computer), and Pay down my credit card debt. Don't judge me peeps, I'm just being honest and putting it all out there, thus I am going to have you ALL to keep me accountable!

Now go make your own here! Post your board in the comments below or on my Facebook page for accountability! 

Recipe Makeover-Roasted Garlic Mashed Cauliflower (no taters here)

Usually our thanksgiving and christmas table has a spot for some deliciously creamy mashed potatoes, but this year we changed things up. I was one of the skeptical ones, who was a little nervous about making the conversion, but after trying the, all I can say is YUMMO! Here is the recipe, it is delicious by the way!

Ingredients

• 1 full head of garlic
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 heads cauliflower
• salt & pepper

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 
2. Cut just the top of the bulb of garlic, place in an aluminum packet and drizzle with olive oil. Close packet and bake for approximately 30 min or until soft.
3. Boil cauliflower until tender, beginning to fall apart. 
4. Drain cauliflower and place in blender/food processor, squeeze softened cloves of garlic into cauliflower, season with salt & pepper, and blend until smooth. 
5. Serve your delicious low calorie side! 

For a creamy and cheesy flavor, add either 2 tbsp cream cheese or 2 garlic herb laughing cow wedges prior to blending. 

This is a great CLEAN, VEGAN, VEGETARIAN, and GLUTEN-FREE recipe! 

Clean Eating??? What is it and is it right for ME?

The newest craze nutritional craze in the past couple years has been the concept of CLEAN Eating. What is Clean eating? Is it right for you?

The main concept behind clean eating is consuming only natural, healthful, items. Items which have been grown and delivered to you without any processing or preservatives, including grown with harsh chemicals. It is more less eating a healthy all natural diet! Eating clean involves eating 5-6 small meals a day of lean meats, whole grains, and complex carbs.

Is clean eating right for you??? Y>>>E>>>S, YES, YES, YES! If you are looking to:

• LOSE WEIGHT
• GAIN ENERGY
• EAT MORE OFTEN
• EAT HEALTHIER
• ETC. ETC. ETC.

I could tell you a thousand reasons why eating clean could help you, but the best advice I can give you is to simply try it and you will FEEL the difference! I consistently post Clean eating recipes, if there are any items in particular you would like me to makeover (make clean), feel free to contact me and I will help to my best ability! 

Here are a few simple steps you can follow to clean eating:

1. Eat 5-6 small meals a day, eating every 2-3 hours. (TIP: Find out how many calories you should be consuming in a day and divide the amount by the number of meals you plan on consuming to see approximate calorie breakdown for each meal)
2. Eating whole grains and complex carbs will help increase energy and keep you full longer. (TIP: Make sure your are looking for WHOLE GRAIN items, make sure you are also consuming the appropriate serving size)
3. Eat as many fresh fruits and vegetables as you choose (TIP: Keep an eye on consumption of fruits high in natural sugar content and when you find certain fruits/vegetables you prefer above others, make sure to always have them on hand, washed and prepared to take with you at any time.)
4. Eat lean meats such as chicken, fish, and turkey (TIP: Cooking lean meats in advance and storing them individually packed in the fridge will help you stay on track, having something to grab any moment, portion size is important!)
5. Avoid white flour, sugar, sugar substitutes, trans fats, and saturated fats (TIP: Using Stevia in place of sugar and sugar substitutes in recipes will help you stay on track. Carrying a bottle around with you will help when out and about.)
    
6. BE PREPARED!!! (TIP: Carry small baggies/containers of nuts, pieces of fruit, chunks of meats, nutritional bars, and protein shake packets (my favorite is shakeology). Take a cooler if you will be out for an extended period, make sure you are prepared for the unpredictable moments, such as passing by your old favorite fast food restaurant or the junk machine.)
7. Take baby steps towards a fully clean lifestyle! (TIP: Making small changes over a time will lead to the big changes, including losing weight and having more energy!)
8. Indulge in Moderation (TIP: I get single size, small organic, chocolates I keep on hand for those times ;)

NOW, lets get clean! If you are ready to get started on the eating clean track and you want some support along the way, I am here to help.

I will be hosting a private Facebook 5-DAY FREE CLEAN EATING CHALLENGE, starting in just a couple days. You will be provided with a shopping list and daily menu for the challenge. It is completely FREE! Starting small with just 5 days will lead to a lifestyle of changes! If you are interested, follow me on here or visit my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/healthierhappieru4life

*Shakeology is available at www.myshakeology.com/hlthyhapyu4life 

Recipe Makeover-Chicken Salad

I love chicken salad, especially for a quick snack or lunch. After buying a rotisserie chicken yesterday while getting my grocery shopping done, I decided I needed to use part of it for some delicious chicken salad! Attached is my updated, healthier version of chicken salad, it is a little on the chunky side, but that's how I like it!

Ingredients:

• 4 oz (or approx. 1 breast) of a rotisserie chicken
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans
• 1/2 cup quartered red seedless grapes
• 1/2 cup chopped celery
• 4 tbsp. Mayo (I used the brand made with olive oil)
• 1/2 tsp celery seed
• 4 tsp sweet relish
• Salt & Pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Chop chicken into chunks or shred, place in bowl
2. Add remaining ingredients and mix, yes easy as that!
3. Serve chilled

I prefer my chicken salad in romaine heart boats! 

This made 6 servings for me, each coming in at 90 calories! Delicious and healthy!

If you have a favorite go to snack or lunch you would like me to makeover, let me know and I will do my best! 

Spaghetti Squash Bake

I made this healthfully updated version of baked spaghetti last night and it was AWESOME! If you haven't tried spaghetti squash before in a recipe as a substitute, you should. A lot of times I hear people say yuck, spaghetti squash, I can't eat that stuff, but they haven't tried it in a dish actually. I personally am a fan of it right out of the skin, but most aren't, so placing it in a recipe for instance instead of noodles is a great alternate for it. Last night I used it in place of the normal high calorie high carb noodles in my baked spaghetti. I have attached the recipe, give it a try and let me know what you think!

Ingredients:

1 lb extra lean ground beef
1 onion, minced
1 bell pepper, minced (I prefer red or yellow for the sweetness)
1 cup mushrooms, sliced
1 spaghetti squash
4 cups of spaghetti sauce, your choice, the cleaner the better!
Olive oil
Salt & Pepper
1 tsp Oregano
1 tsp Basil

*Mozzarella to top if you prefer

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
2. Slice the spaghetti squash length wise and place on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with herbs, and bake for 1 hour or until soft to fork.
3. Cook ground beef and drained of all excess fat, place to the side
4. Saute onion, bell pepper, mushrooms, in olive oil until soft. Once cooked, add the meat and sauce to pan, simmer until warmed through.
5. Remove spaghetti squash from oven once cooked through and using a fork shred the inners out from side to side, it should look like strings of squash, resembling pasta. 
6. You can either place the squash in a dish, top with sauce, and bake for a short time (for family style presentation) or serve up each bowl separately.

In my house we decided to serve each bowl separately, generously sauced, and some sprinkled mozzarella on top! Great served with a side salad!

Since I wouldn't be home until late yesterday evening, I precooked the squash and precut the veggies. This made my evening meal preparation fast and simple! With squash already cooked prep time was only about 15 min. Yummo!